I have read the discourse on how the unauthorized Army tartan can be “proud and honorable.” Normally, I do not get involved in a heated discussion over a tartan. However, I joined the Army in 1971 at the age of 18, and since my life has been to some degree shaped by that experience. I felt I should post some observations.

Highland Logan, by my count Riverkilt did answer your question three different ways (twice in post #17 and once again in post #28.) Longhuntr74 suggested Riverkilt may have been referring to the legacy of the Armed Forces that the tartans represent and not the legacy of the tartans themselves. You begin your response to him with "no real offense intended" then you rebuffed him without acknowledging his point, and again asked Riverkilt to answer your question.

Peacekeeper83 offered an answer from a Marine’s point of view.
Quote Originally Posted by peacekeeper83 View Post
Its a fashion tartan to you.... to those of us who served in the Marines, it has a completely different meaning.. official or not.. it represents our service... the Marines may not have officially adopted the tartan, but it is widely accepted Marine Corps wide, as the tartan representation of our service.

Every year, on the Marine Corps Birthday, balls are held in all parts of the world, and it would be a common sight to see kilted Marines wearing the Leatherneck tartan.. it has our name on it.. and it is cherished, by all who served.. it represents everything important to us... to the men and women we lost in times of war and conflicts, to those who proudly the Marine Corps, throughout history.

So, you are right... to you..it is just a fashion tartan... to me... it is a lot more... and unless you earned the title of Marine, I am afraid, you will never understand.
Your response to peacekeeper83.
Quote Originally Posted by Highland Logan
And peacekeeper83, thank you for your discription. You are right I don't get it, and it has nothing to do with not being a Marine. Our military has symbols, but they come from within, not from outsiders.
Peacekeeper83 is an insider telling you the Marines consider the Leatherneck tartan to be a symbol of their service and as he says "it represents everything important to us." There are many things in life that must be experienced to be understood. The Marine Corps is one of those things (as peacekeeper83 stated.) After being politely advised of that point, you insult peacekeeper83 by telling him it has nothing to do with being a Marine.

Highland Logan, it appears from your posts, a military branch must officially recognize a tartan in order for it to be acceptable for wear by those the tartan was designed to honor. It is also apparent, that in your opinion, anyone like Alexis Malcolm, whose father was a US Navy Doctor who went with "his" Marines to Bouganville & Guadalcanal, is a Navy wife, whose brother is a Submariner, and has a son, who is a US Marine, is an outsider. That outsider as you call her has to live everyday knowing she may be informed at anytime that her husband, brother, or son won’t be coming home. Just like all the other military families (including those in your country.)

Funny, you didn’t mention which branch of your county’s armed forces you were in.